X-bit labs

Intel Expands Centrino Processor Options.

Category: Mobile

by Anton Shilov

[ 04/07/2004 | 07:30 AM ]

Intel Corporation, the world's largest supplier of microprocessors, today expanded its lineup of mobile chips with new offerings targeting value, mainstream and ultra low voltage applications.

Intel’s new offerings are the Low Voltage Intel Pentium M 1.30GHz, the Ultra-Low Voltage Intel Pentium M 1.10GHz, the Intel Celeron M 1.40GHz and the Ultra Low Voltage Intel Celeron M 900MHz. All new chips are produced using Intel’s 130nm process technology and are based on the Banias micro-architecture designed for mobile applications, including those that are based on Intel Centrino mobile technology. Intel Pentium M and Intel Celeron processors currently share the same micro-architecture and both work using 400MHz processor system bus; Pentium M chips have 1MB L2 cache, Celeron M feature only 512KB L2 cache.

The standard-voltage Celeron M flavours at speeds of 1.40GHz, 1.30GHz and 1.20GHz, operate at 1.356V and have a thermal design power (TDP) of 24.5W. The Ultra Low voltage (ULV) versions of Intel Celeron M at 800MHz and 900MHz, operate at 1.004V and have a TDP of 7W.

Typical Low Voltage (LV) Pentium M chips with core-clock of 1.30GHz require 1.180V voltage and have a thermal design power (TDP) of 12W. The ultra-low voltage (ULV) versions of Intel Pentium M processors at 1.00GHz and 1.10GHz, operate at 1.004V and have a TDP of 7W.

Follow-ups for the current Pentium M chips – processors code-named Dothan – made using 90nm fabrication process are expected to be available around May 2004. According to currently available information, Dothan will debut at 1.70 and 1.80GHz clock-speeds with 2MB of L2 cache. Intel will start rapid transition to
90nm fabrication process of its Celeron M product line in the fourth quarter of the year. Sources indicate that in Q4 2004 there will be at least three 90nm Celeron M microprocessors with 512KB of secondary level cache in the family: 1.60GHz, 1.50GHz and 1.40GHz. The first ULV Celeron M microprocessor at 900MHz
is expected to hit the ground already in the third quarter of the year.

All processors announced today are available in business quantities out now and are likely to further solidify positions of Intel Centrino on the mobile market. Intel Centrino notebooks accounted for over 40% market share in 2003 – the platform’s first year of existence.

LV Pentium M 1.30GHz processor is quoted at $284, ULV Pentium M 1.10GHz chip costs $262, Celeron M 1.40GHz is available for $134, ULV Celeron M product is quoted at $161. Earlier this week Intel reduced pricing of some other ULV and LV chips.